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Regulatory Brief
Air Tour Operators NPRM
Contents:
- The Issue
- Why Its Important
- SPA's Position
- Current Status
- What You Can Do
- Reference Material
The Issue:
The FAA has proposed that most sightseeing flights currently conducted under Part 91 be subject
instead to Part 119, Part 135, and Part 136 in the interest of safety. Flight training,
introductory flights, and certain charitable events would remain under Part 91. New safety
restrictions include minimum altitudes for flightseeing and new rules for the donning of
personal floatation devices.
Why Its Important:
The proposed rules will make mom-and-pop floatplane sightseeing operations prohibitively expensive,
and potentially impossible to insure. The FAA expects this rule to put 700 of 1670 existing
Part 91 sightseeing operators out of business. The Seaplane Pilots Association expects an even harder
hit within the seaplane sightseeing segment.
SPA's Position:
The FAA has not shown that the proposed rules will reduce the accident rate sufficiently to justify
eliminating half of this industry. Absent such justification, these rules are
excessive and ill-advised.
Current Status:
| 10/22/2003 |
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NPRM released. |
| 1/20/2004 |
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Comment period deadline. |
| 4/19/2004 |
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Comment period extended deadline. |
What You Can Do:
Members are encouraged to submit comments, particularly with respect to the economic impact and
basis for the rulemaking.
Submit all comments in duplicate to:
Docket Management System
U.S. Department of Transportation
Room Plaza 401
400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
You must reference Docket FAA-1998-4521 at the beginning of your letter.
Reference Material:
Air Tour Operator NPRM (PDF, 175KB)
SPA's Letter of Opposition (PDF, 32KB)
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